Toilet protective device



1 1946- H. H. DES ROCHES I TOILET PROTECTIVE DEVICE Filed March 21, .1944

Patented July 16, 1946 FlCE':

TOILET PROTECTIXE DEVICE Hilton H. Des Roches, Butte, Mont, assignor of one-half to Christopher Frassett, San Francis- 00, Calif.

Application March 21, 1944, Serial No.527,443

9 Claims. (01. 220-55) This invention relates to what may be termed a protective device in the form of a fastening mechanism for a container closure and has particular reference to an accessory for use in conjunction with the closure of a bowl-shaped member, such as a toilet bowl. A broad object of the invention is to discourage and, if desirable, preclude use of such a receptacle as a disposal means or repository for .articles and materials for which it was never intended.

More particularly, an important object of the invention is to render use of a toilet bowl as a disposal or repository means for foreign matter so difficult, if not impossible, as to discourage such use and thus preclude much serious damage and injury to the plumbing system with which the bowl is connected.

Misuse of such a receptacle by children of the household, thoughtless members thereof, and very frequently by builders and their employees or prospective purchasers or lessees either during the course of construction or thereafter, causes serious damage to the plumbing system, the cost of repairing which is usually out of all proportion to the apparent damage that might be caused by such misuse. Hence it is important to discourage or, if necessary, preclude such misuse.

Important features of the invention reside in the particular arrangement and combination of elements whereby the above desirable ends are obtained and, more particularly, in the means tive of the two members comprising my fastening device.

Referring now to the drawing, I have disclosed for purposes of illustration the use of my inven tion in conjunction with the lid I!) of a toilet bowl I 2. Extending around the inner periphery of the bowl and. merging into the wall of the receptacle at the opening thereof is a bead Which the extremities of my improved fastening device are adapted to engage. I

As will be noted from the drawing, the extremities consist of what may be regarded broadly as hook members l6 whichare adapted to at least partially encompass the bead l4 and project somewhat beyond the marginal edge of the closure when positioned, for a purpose to be described more fully hereinafter. For purposes of illusfor positioning'such fastening device and tensioning the same across the closure while at the same time concealing from casual view the mech-- tration, I have disclosed member I 6 as a rectangular rod formation fashioned from a single piece of relatively stiff wire or rod material so bent as to form a short arm l8 and a longer arm 20 extending substantially parallel'thereto, the two arms being joined by an intermediate; portion or base 22.

To the free end 20 of longer arm 20 of one memher It is secured one extremity of a flexible and I somewhat elastic member or strap 24, which may be secured in the embodiment illustrated by means of stitching 26, thus forming a sleeve about that end of the rectangular rod formation. Secured to the end portion 20' of the longer arm 20 of the other member It 'is another flexible member or strap 28. This strap is preferably secured by simply looping it about the end of the rec? tangular rod formation as a bearing and adjust,-

ably connecting the free end to an intermediate I portion of the strap by means of a slip buckle of the invention resides in the simplicity of its construction and the manner, in which it is associated with flexible members constituting a portion of the fastening device.

Various other objects and meritorious features of the invention will become. apparent from the 30, thus enabling the length of at least one 'of the two straps of my fastening device to be easily and quickly adjusted.

Secured to the free end of strap 28 by means of a stitch-formed sleeve 32 is one rodlike extremity 34' of a clasp element 34 which may be made of wire or other suitable material and is provided at its oppositely disposed free extremity with a hook portion 36. An intermediate portion of strap 24, adjacent the free extremity Fig. 5 is an enlarged exploded view in,perspecthereof, is reversely folded to form a triple-ply section and stitched transversely across and through the three layers thus formed at a point 7 intermediate the ends of the reversely folded section to form a sleeve or loop 38 receiving the rear transverse bar or journal-member 40 of the fulcrum element 40 of a composite clasp assembly adapted to cooperate with the hook 36.

The fulcrum element '40 is formed of a single piece of material, such as wire, extending outwardly on each side from its journaled portion as indicated at 42, thence inwardly as indicated at 44, thence forwardly as indicated at 46 and 5 turned upwardly to form opposed bearing eyelets 48 lying in a plane. substantially perpendicu-llar to thatof the strap and fulcrum eler'nentz v Locking member 50 likewise consists of a single rcdlike piece of material, such as wire, bent into to substantially rectangular shape but including a' pair of oppositely disposed ears 52 whicliareijoursta naled in the eyelets 48. These ears are spaced somewhat above the lower extremityl tof .thellodkeiiing member. I The free extremity of strap 24 extending beyond the triple-ply section functions ase protective pad or flap 54 upon which the clasp assembly when in locked position seats, thus-precluding contact of the metal parts against th surface of the closure orlidl ll. Secured'tothe" upper fade' of strap28" 'at56' ladjacentits free extremity as by means vided with 'an'opening" intheform of a but-to'n-'- hole 51 near its' free 'e hd."ThiSf flap-is adapted" to be positioned *ov'erthe"clasp-'assemblywhen in locked'position and buttoned down'on'button'"58*" to conceal the"clasp"assembly =from -view and to i some extent'constitute a deterrent against-"un locking the fastening device. 1

Referring .now "once again; to"'th'e particular embodimentillustrated'fbr the hook members l 6, the ShOitIaTm' 181s preferably of a lengthsubstantially equal to the'widthof'itheb'ead I 4 extending around the'insideof the receptacleopening; and the" length of the long: arm .29 is 'suflicientto Y project beyond'the' margin of 'theclosure "or 'lid lfl wheniin Lposition over'the. opening? In the"par="- ticular embodiment"fillustrated ithe closure is 1 what may be regarded as a compositeraffaircom 40 prising the"lid-lll and the underlying seat 60" an'd'in this instance the length of 'armLN is sfufliicient *to permit it 'to extend Beyond themargin of seat 60, which is as arule of somewhat greater diameter'than the '1ldI|Ui""I'1T intermediate portion'orbasefiiof thehook element is or a length substantially equal to the depth'ofbead M:

Iniuse the -hookelements "are "arranged .to 'en'-: compassLthe' bead l4 at'substan'tially oppositely" disposed portions thereof: and zthe'two straps" are joined'byl' thetcla'sp"assemblythrough simply; engagingthe hook 36 under the basefo'flockingele ment 50 1 .after' the strapst'have been '5 adjusted L forlengthiand' then"forcing"the locking element around its pivotal support on fulcrum element 43 I and"down"'over clasp element 34. r This "forces the free" ends of straps 24 and 28 closer together" and, when the "outer 'end of locking member 53 abuts claspelement 34;said lokingjmember will have passed the dead center relation'by-virtue of the fact that the horizontal plane of its pivotal support hasbe'en passed. A1so, a,flat loopfior ring j EI' mayibe used to retain 'the'memberiui Thus the clasp" will remain in locked position, tensioning the separable straps, J'un'til" positively unlocked by"slidi'ng'the ring 5i and raising lockingmember' 505% It will-be n'otedthat the clasp.mechanism'does hott'ouchth'e surface of .theclOsureorJli'd l'il by reason-pf the padportionfikofstrapizaxand that 7 the'pado'r 'flapf56' comes 'dowr'f'over the clasp in locked positi'o'm'and buttons in placeto' conceal l theasse'mbly. While in Figsil, 2 and ithe fastening device hasbeen'illustrated a's'positioned along. the longitudinalmedia'n'lin of a mo're'or 1653' I6 elliptical contour, the strap passing between the spaced hinge elements of the seat and lid, it will be apparent that the fastening device may be positioned transversely in this particular instance, thereby minimizing the likelihood of removal without substantial effort where the general contour is ellipticalas distinguishedfrom circular.

A somewhat modified arrangementhas been illustrated in Fig. 3 wherein the fastening device is. positioned transversely and somewhat forwardly of the transverse median line of the closure 'contoun'straps 24 and 28, respectively, beingheld in..position. by longitudinally extending straps. 64-landlv62;ftolthe end of each of which may be securedqhoolelelements I6 which are positioned around bead H! in the manner heretofore described: If preferred, straps 62 and 64 may be formedwasea single length, one end of which is secured to strap 28, passed around and under the spaced hinge elements of the lid 19, and the free'end-secured to strap by button 58i Whilef have illustrated my improved'fasten ingdevi'ce' for closure members in conjunction" with'one particular use'to which it is eminently 1' suited and wherein it willaccomplish the 'objec-* tives heretofore'set forth, it will be apparentthat the utility "of the mechanism is not so limited and that'it is broadly adapted for use in conjunction with any'closure member adapted to'seat upona marginal bead extending 'aroundthe' wall of the opening on the interior thereof "For'these' reasons I wish to be limited only withinthe scopeof the" appended'claims; t

I claim: Y

1. .A fastening device for the closure: ofia re-J ceptacle having a bead extending .around the" inner periphery of the opening therein; said device comprisingJa pair of membei'sengaging said bead and including a portionextending between the closure and the wall of said opening and projecting beyond'the'. marginof the" closure when the same is in closedrposition; and a separable flexible member joining "the ends ofj said last mentionedjc'ortiohs of each member;

2. A fastening'devi'ce fortheclos'urepf a re-'" ceptacle having a bead extendingaround the inner"periphery' of theopening thereinr said device-"comprising" a pair of members engaging said head and including a portion disposed be tween the closure and "the wall of said opening and projecting beyond the" margin'of the closure 1 whenthe'same'is in closed positionya flexible member secured" tothelast mentioned portion" of "each "engaging" member, and? cooperating means secured to the free" endof each flexible member joining thefree ends thereof and'means' fortensi'oning the flexible members across the closure, whereby said engaging members are held firmly in place and said closure. is secured, against displacement from closed position.

3, A fastening device for the closure ofa receptacle'ha'ving a bead extending around the inner periphery of the opening therein; said device comprising a pair of memberseach engaging said bead and. comprising a U-shaped member including a baseand legs of different lengths, a flexible member secured tothe extremity of the longer leg of each engaging.memher, and embracing said closuremember cooper ating. means securedtoLthevfreaend ofleach flexible member joining the free endsthreof, and means-for. tensioning the flexible members across the'closure, whereby said engaging members are held'fir'm'ly in placeand saidclosure is secured against displacement from closed position.

4. A fastening device for the closure of a receptacle having a bead extending around the inner periphery of the opening therein; said device comprising a pair of members each engaging said bead and comprising a rectangular rod formation bent transversely to form a U- shaped member including a base and legs of different lengths, a flexible member looped about that end of the rectangle associated with the longer arm of each engaging member, said flexible means extending over the outer surface of the closure, and cooperating means secured to the free end of each flexible member joining the free ends thereof, and means for tensioning the flexible members across the closure, whereby said engaging members are held flrmly in place and said closure is secured against displacement from closed position.

5. A fastening device for the closure of a receptacle having a bead extending around the inner periphery of the opening therein; said device comprising a pair of members each engaging said head and comprising a'rectangular rod formation bent transversely to form a U- shaped member including a base and 'legs of different length, a flexible member having a bearing portion receiving that end of the rectangle associated with the longer arm of each engaging member, cooperating means secured to the free' end of each flexible member joining the free ends thereof, and means for tensioning the same across the closure, and concealing flaps associated with the free end of each flexible member and so positioned with reference to the tensioning-joinder means as to both overlie and underlie the same when in locked position.

6. A fastening device for a closure of a receptacle having a bead extending around the inner periphery of an opening thereof; said device comprising a flexible and slightly elastic strap-member extending across the outer side of the closure and having means on the ends thereof engaging said bead at opposite sides of the opening; said device passing between the closure and the rim of the receptacle; and means engaging the length of said flexible member for tensioning the same to draw the beadengaging means more firmly in place and the closure more tightly closed.

7. A fastening device for a closure of a receptacle having a bead extending aroumkthe inner periphery of an opening thereof: said device comprising a flexible and slightly elastic 7 means more firmly in place and the closure more tightly closed.

8. A fastening device for a closure of 'a re-- ceptacle having a bead extending around the inner periphery of an opening thereof; said device comprising a separable strap-member extending across the outer side of the closure,-each part of said strap-member having end-portions passing between the receptacle rim and the closure andengaging said bead; one of said strap parts being reversely folded intermediate its length to form a triple-ply strap-section, the plies of said section being secured together along a transverse line intermediatevthe length'of said section to form a bearing sleeve of the upper two plies; a clasp element having a rod-like supporting portion journaled in said sleeve and overlying the free end of said strap, which forms a pad therefor; and a cooperating clasp element secured to the free end of the other strap.

9. A fastening device for the closure of a receptacle having a bead extending around the inner periphery of an opening therein; said device comprising a separable strap-member extending across the outer side of the closure, each part of said strap-member having end-portions passing between the receptacle rim and the closure and engaging said bead; one of said strap parts being reversely folded intermediate its length to form a triple-ply strap-section, the plies of said section being secured together along a transverse line intermediate the length of said section to form a bearing sleeve of the upper two plies; a clasp element having a rod-like supporting portion journaled in said sleeve and overlying the free end of said strap, which forms a pad therefor; a cooperating clasp element secured to the free end of the other strap; a flap secured to the upper face of one of said straps and adapted to overlie said clasp elements when locked, and a securing means on the upper face of the other strap for holding down the free end of said flap.

HILTON H. DES ROCHES. 

